Focus on Balochistan

The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, on Friday inaugurated Musakhail Mineral Development Project in a backward district of Balochistan, while at the same time announcing recruitment of 500 Baloch youngsters in the army. Speaking on the occasion, Gen Kayani clarified that the army had no personal interest in developing and managing the natural resources of Balochistan, except that it wanted to exploit them for the benefit of the local population. He also said that so far 6,000 persons from Balochistan have been recruited and more would be welcome even beyond the allocated quota. But what needs to be understood is the fact that it is not the exclusive responsibility of the army to do this task. Primarily, it is the duty of the federal government to shift its focus for developing this province to eliminate the sense of deprivation of Balochs. It must honour all its commitments made from time to time. Still a great deal remains to be done pledged under the Aghaaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package. The province is enriched with highly valuable minerals, including gold and copper. All the government needs to do is to take correct decisions without further wasting time. It is already too late.